JT's P-Day

Yesterday, this mom was pretty moppy.  I felt horrible, that JT had checked in earlier and may have not got my email.  Ask Jason, Tuesday night---when I saw how early he emailed I seriously cried at the thought he thought I didn't write. 

Then, I read his letter and found one of the missionaries he was with--- blog.  Jason found some pictures of JT!  Here is JT on P-day.  He is looking happy. 

Above ....JT in English Class, look close you can see him.

Elder Lambson Goes Home

It is I,  ...once again from the amazing country that is Russia!

So you're probably wondering whats going on so here let me tell ya! :)

Elder Eborn and Elder Lambson

This week we had some sweet meetings and taught the gospel, like we missionaries do! This was Elder Lambson's very last week here in Russia, as I am typing he is on a plane back home.  If you want to get a hold of him which probably would be a good idea seeing as how he has my memory card with a bunch of sick (sick=cool) pictures on it and some other stuff that will remain secret until you receive it! It was sad to see him go and a little weird, not gunna lie. He had just finished his mission and I feel like I still  a long way to go.. but that's good because I will only be able to do this once and I wanna live it up!

We had this really cool meeting with an less active member who was a professional jazz pianst. Elder Lambson loves to play the piano and is amazing at it so they had like a "jam session" and the whole family came in and rocked out ha. I should have learned how to play the piano, mom why didn't you make me? Oh well, at the end of the meeting we asked if we could play a Hymn and we all sing together. It was so cool, the Spirit entered the room as we sang together and we then shared a spiritual thought on music and the gospel. The Father, said that he would be seeing me at church this Sunday! It was so cool. It's amazing how much music can enter our hearts and allow us to feel the spirit. Also, meeting with our nuclear physist who is awesome and wants to get baptized...it's been great missionary work here in Tomsk. We are working hard to find those who are ready to hear the gospel.

Yesterday, I went with Elder Froelich  http://tylerfroelich.wordpress.com/ and Elder Brightwell out to this city called Cloochy, it's like a little farm town about an hour and half outside of Tomsk. We took a bus and it dropped us off on the side of the road. There was a sign that just said Cloochy and an arrow pointing down a long road. So we set off walking and about an hour later we were at the house of an awesome family who they had been working with we shared a spiritual thought and headed off back down the road! It was cool I'll send some pictures when I figure out how.. Apparently, I can send them via email but I don't have a card reader/cameracord so we'll figure that out.

Today, and hopefully next week you'll have pictures from me and also from Elder Lambson. Oh you probably want to know about this next transfer, new comp and such so here ya go! Last friday I got a call from President Trejo. He told us that Elder Lambson was going home, and that I would be staying in Tomsk, and that my new companion would be Elder Hanson. I haven't met him yet he's on a train from Omsk to Novo right now and then he'll be on his way to Tomsk tomorrow. He has been out 2 transfers more than I, We will be the Green and Greener Companionship! It will be an adventure! So look forward to some interesting stories this next 6 weeks!

I love you all, I hope everything is well and you're having fun! The church is true, The Book of Mormon is the word of God and I know we have a prophet. I can't put it any better than what was said by Bill S. Preston and Theodore Logan, "BE excellent to each other".

LIVESTRONG
ELDER EBORN

Grandma & Grandpa- Thanks For the Email! I can testify to the member's in missionary work thing! It makes all the difference! We try to get members in all of our meetings and we really need them for the retention of new members, if you have the opportunity to help them out, take it! Invite them over with there investigators for dinner or something because it really does help. Here in Tomsk, we have a great Branch and they try to help as much as they can. Well I love you, have a great week!

Mom and Dad - All is well here, I love you!  I always can't wait to hear from you next week! Have a wonderful week! Send my love to Megan, Maddie, Tanner, Gramm, and of course my brownest friend--Scout dog!

Many are Cold but, Few Are Frozen

Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end....ye shall have eternal life.  2 Nephi 31:20

Siberian Battle Hymn

For those of you who follow our Blog--- check out Brother Simmons song:

http://simmonsinsiberia.blogspot.com/2010/04/siberian-battalion-hymn-4202010.html

A Challenge For You| Family & Friends

So this week was another great week. Teaching has been great, we've been busy with investigators, less actives, and just the craziness that is Russia!

One of our investigators has dropped off the face of the earth. We have no idea where he went so if you see him let me know. We've been getting more and more people at church each week which is really cool until they ask me something I have no idea how to answer because I don't understand what they say.. but its all good Elder Lambson usually jumps in when I get the "big deer in the headlights" look on my face.

This week was my first Zone Conference! We had President and Sister Trejo come with the AP's and we had a great conference. It was like a spiritual recharge.

 I hope you all don't mind. But, I am going to issue a challenge to you all (meaning all my family and those who read this email) As a missionary we often give commitments/challenges, and by often I mean everytime we talk to someone. This weekend, at Zone Conference I felt really impressed that I should do this...family/friends so I'm giving you all a challenge which will not only be for me, but, will help the people here in Russia as well.

 Often times the people here hear us as missionaries say "I know the Book of Mormon is true" or something like that and yeah it is but, sometimes I think that the fact that this is what I do everyday, all day long, makes them have a harder time believing me and feel what I am saying.

So :) where ever you are in your reading of The Book of Mormon, whether it's sitting there collecting dust or your are nearly through with reading it. I would GREATLY appreciate it if you finish it and do what it says in Moroni 10:3-5 and ask in prayer if it is true. This means if you haven't picked up a BOM in a while you'd better start reading! Some times I don't think we realise what we have. I sure didn't before I got here.  I mean, even in the MTC I didn't under stand how important it is. The Book of Mormon really will bring a man closer to God by reading and abiding by its guidance, it was written for us in our day, and most importantly it is the keystone of our religion. If the Book of Mormon isn't true, then Joseph Smith wasn't really a prophet, and I am in the middle of Siberia wasting my time. BUT, I promise you that is not the case!

I have read The Book of Mormon and I have done as instructed by a Prophet and I have asked and I KNOW it is true.  Why else would I be doing what I'm doing?! Things would be much easier at home in Utah, going to school, working, and hanging out with Amber. But I know, that this book is true. I want everyone here in Siberia to have the opportunity to read and to know for themselves. That's why I am here.

So my challenge/commitment it to all of you is this; Will you read The Book of Mormon from cover to cover, and then pray to know if it's true? If yes, then I will be expecting some emails/letters/whatever form of communication you can think of to get it to me about your experience so that I can honestly share it with the people of Russia. So that it's not just Some weird American in a suit and tie telling them this but many people who have gained a testimony of the truth for themselves. I hope that you all will except this challenge. Family--I especially feel impressed we need to read the Book of Mormon more faithfully.


Alright well on to some adventures I've had this week!
So Elder Lambson and I were walking home down the river that use to be the street to our apartment (Russia doesn't have drains so all the water just sits in the street untill it evaporates) and there's a lot of water. So Elder Lambson said "Hey, lets go this way home" and so I followed him. We came to a part where there was what looked like a shallow puddle ( never ever think it's a shallow Puddle in Russia) so I took a step on to what looked like a solid piece of ice. Well, it wasn't solid, it was more of an iceberg. I stepped on it and down it went. And so did I! I was calf deep in a puddle of freezing ice water. I freaked out and tried to jump to the next ice block which was just like the other one and down I went. When I finally found a solid patch of ice it was like I was in Raiders of the Lost Ark trying to get across this lake! It was crazy, I also met a drunk guy who liked me alot :). There are more stories but I don't have time to tell them you'll have to wait a few years to hear the some of them!

I love you all and hope you have a great week! Get started on your reading!



LIVESTRONG
ELDER EBORN

Dad- Way to fall over at the light!  LOL, I heard Tanner did too. I wish I could go running or something. I'm going crazy just doing push ups at sit ups!


Tanner- Way to look stunning in that tux bro! AND way to keep the tradition alive (halo on prom oh yeah!)

Mom- I got all the attachments :) I'm still not sure how to send you pictures but I'll send a disk home with Elder Lambson he dies next week and will come up to Layton shortly after to see you and give you some stuff I'm sending with him.


Sara Day - Thanks for the email finally things are going good for me I'm working hard and I'm in Siberia! ha you can write me when ever you want or email me here but just know letters will take about 6 weeks for me to read so yeah! have fun, play hard and don't get into to much trouble! :)

Doing Good | It's What We Do

So things here are good I've had a great week! I only have one card to play in this game they call the mission so I play it often. Work. I am loving it! We had another kick butt week last week teaching over 20 lessons and getting 2 baptisimal dates! and as of yesterday we actually got 1 more! So May 8th there will be a baptismal service at the Tomsk Branch building.  I am stoked. It will be such a neat experience. It is such an amazing thing to be able to help people learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ and see them realize that this is what they need in their life. It's what we all need. One individual getting baptized told us that on our first meeting he had the option to ditch out on us and go see a concert that wasn't very good concert. He said that he felt like what he needed in his life was what we had to offer. Another one we've been working with told us that everything we had been teaching just makes sense ( he is acutally an academic). What dad said was very true though, "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink it" but when they do it sure does feel good!

This week thus far has been good to we've got a lot of stuff planned that will keep us busy. I find myself often using what I've learned from you (my parents) about organization and about keeping a clean house LOL. It's just much easier to leave home when you don't have to worry about coming home to it dirty!

Conference was awesome. We got to watch it on Saturday and Sunday via 15 inch monitor in the family history library of the branch building. 6 missionaries, and one investigator crowded around a little computer screen and we still felt the spirit like crazy! Can I just say how cool Prez Monson is?! In the MTC we had a saying, "Hot Dog! We got a Prophet!"  It's true our Prophet really is called of God. In a meeting after a session with an investigator. He told us how impressed he was with our prophet and what he said. (this investigator now has a Baptismal date). Conference was really amazing needless to say. But you all saw it 2 weeks ago so yeah.

If I haven't told you yet there are pigeons everywhere here! And I have made it a goal to pull a "Ryan Smith". I've got 2 years and I think this will be a possiblity!

Now mom for your questions... ·

• What is the place like that you are living in? Clean/Safe? We live in an apartment in Southern Tomsk on the 7th floor. It's one of the nicest apartments in the mission.·
• Do you have enough warm bedding? I am plenty warm. The buildings are often SUPER HOT. And the 0 to -10 weather feels amazing after a night of sweating.·
• Do you have a washer/dryer? How are you cleaning your clothes? We have a washing machine that takes about an hour and a half to wash a load of clothes and then we hang them in our apartment to dry them. Apartments are tiny and there is no room for dryers so they don't have them.·
• What is your daily schedule? Daily schedule is as such. 630 - 700: wake up and work out, I can't run(which is killing me) so I do push ups and situps and stuff. 700-800 showers and breakfast 8-9 personal study where i read my scriptures and study the gospel. It's the da bomb. 9-10 Companion study. Elder Lambson and I come together and share what we learned in personal and plan out what were going to teach. 10-11 Language study. I learn and practice what I need to know in order to teach our lesson in Russian. I also get an extra hour a day for language study for the 1st 2 months here in Russia but we hardly ever do it we're to busy. So from 11-9 we go out and do missionary work! We teach lessons to investigators and members. Contact and go about doing good! It's what we do. From 9-10 we plan out our next day make phone calls to our investigators and those we want to meet with then get ready for bed( which is much needed) then we're in bed by 1030 resting for another day of work!And thats my day. ·
• Did you buy new boots? I decided to be tough and just go without for the time being
• Do you have everything you need? I'm fine mom :)
• Can you email us pictures? We'll figure something out. I'm sending a cd home with Elder Lambson when he leaves on the 28th so you'll get some soon. Email here is weird so I don't how to get you pictures yet.·
• Have you had any encounters with the Government with paperwork etc? How does it go?·Nope but I'm pretty sure I met some mafia guys.
• What is a good memory you have of Uncle Boone? I remember when Uncle Boone came and picked us up in Rawlins, Wyoming ...just remember how happy I was that he brought us back.

Sorry time is getting kind of short so the format of the email is probably skewompas. I love you all thank you for your letters and support! I gotta get back to work. Keep me in your prayers and I'll keep you in mine!

LIVESTRONG Elder Eborn

Megan- Yeah Hitler did not have style when it came to moustaches lol.

Grandma and Grandpa - Elder Holland is a stud! We heard quite a few talks from him while we were in the MTC and he knows how to lay it on thick! I love it. I hope you are having a good time and enjoying Spring. It'll get here sooner or later. I've been told that in the summer the sun comes up at about 4 in the morning and goes down around 1230-1 oclock! I'm not in Kansas any more! I love you Thanks for the Email

I Maybe a Greenie

So this week was much better so you all know. I apologize for the "negative nancy" that wrote you last week, Elder JT's back and we're good to go! We've been working hard here in Tomsk, Elder Lambson and I got every standard except for one last week. It was good this week we've made some goals that are going to push us big time and make us work REALLY hard. I told Elder Lambson, "I maybe a greenie, and I may not know the language very well, but I do know how to work, and thats what I'll do!" It's a good feeling when you come home from a long day of meeting with people and you take off the tie and lay down just exhausted. Elder Lambson said, thats when you know youre doing something right. There's a quote from someone (idk who) it is but it says, "if working hard isn't skill, then it is a great substitute.." so that's what were doing! Working hard and hoping things come together.

We've been meeting with investigators and some less active members most of which came to church on Sunday with us--which was really cool.

Easter in Russia is the bomb! You walk around the street and people say Translated, " Jesus is Risen!" and in reply you say, " Its True" it's a great way to talk to someone about the gospel. I carry a Book of Mormon around with me all the time and on marshutki people ask "what is that book?" or something and it is a great way to contact. Easter is great time to talk about the Book of Mormon, after all, it is another Testiment of Jesus Christ. People would say to us "Jesus was Risen!" and we would answer "Yes! and he came to the Nephites!" :) We had some good discussions about it and got some people who were interested in the Book of Mormon, we were like, "I guess we could give you a free copy... and perhaps ETERNAL SALVATION!! we had some fun."

You had some snow back home in Utah huh?